Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and other aquatic organism control

Abstract

Water is treated with sound waves produced by means of a submerged plasma sparking device (16) to mitigate detrimental effects of aquatic organisms in the water. For example, the incrustation of zebra mussels may be reduced by killing the zebra mussels or creating an environment hostile to them. The plasma sparking device may have a main storage circuit (14) which includes liquid dielectric capacitors or cryogenically cooled field coils for storage. Moreover, the electrodes (50) of the plasma sparking device may be of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of inhibiting or reducing the build up of aquatic organisms within a submerged locality, comprising generating submerged acoustical pulses within the locality by repeatedly discharging a plasma sparking device over a period of time in the submerged locality to produce acoustical pulses such that the combined energy discharge is in the order of 25,000-plus Amps at 5,000-plus Volts DC. 
     
     
       2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the plasma sparking device comprises at least one high voltage/high current capacitor connected in series or in parallel in a main storage circuit producing the combined energy discharge, and comprises a discharge wire having a resistance from 0.2 to 0.8 ohms and leading to paired submersible sparking electrodes separated by a sparking gap. 
     
     
       3. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the plasma sparking device comprises at least one high voltage/high current cryogenically cooled superconducting field coil connected in series or in parallel in a main storage circuit producing the combined energy discharge, and comprises a discharge wire having a resistance from 0.2 to 0.8 ohms and leading to paired submersible sparking electrodes separated by a spark gap. 
     
     
       4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 3, in which the electrodes of the plasma sparking device are made of aluminum or an alloy thereof. 
     
     
       5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 3, in which the discharge wire is a nickel-chromium wire. 
     
     
       6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the acoustical pulses are effective to kill or damage the aquatic organisms or otherwise to control them by limiting their ability to grow or colonize a defined area. 
     
     
       7. A method as claimed in claim 6, in which the aquatic organisms are zebra mussels. 
     
     
       8. A method as claimed in claim 6, in which the aquatic organisms are plants. 
     
     
       9. A method as claimed in claim 6, in which the aquatic organisms are single-cell organisms. 
     
     
       10. A method as claimed in claim 6, in which the spark discharge occurs in a spark discharge cavity in the plasma sparking device which is vented at one end to allow egress of an ionized plasma plume of a liquid into which the plasma sparking device discharges. 
     
     
       11. A method as claimed in claim 6, in which the plasma sparking device is operated remotely. 
     
     
       12. A method as claimed in claim 6, in which the electrodes of the plasma sparking device are made of aluminum or an alloy thereof. 
     
     
       13. A method as claimed in claim 6, in which the discharge wire is a nickel-chromium wire. 
     
     
       14. A method as claimed in claim 6, in which the acoustical pulses so generated are intended to serve to sterilize a liquid, separate solids or liquids in colloidal suspensions or to break up solids and liquids immersed in liquids. 
     
     
       15. A method as claimed in claim 6, in which two or more plasma sparking devices are made to produce acoustical pulses such that the time intervals between them are adjusted to the physical dimensions of the target organisms in order to maximize biological damage. 
     
     
       16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the aquatic organisms are zebra mussels. 
     
     
       17. A method as claimed in claim 16, in which the spark discharge occurs in a spark discharge cavity in the plasma sparking device which is vented at one end to allow egress of an ionized plasma plume of a liquid into which the plasma sparking device discharges. 
     
     
       18. A method as claimed in claim 16, in which the plasma sparking device is operated remotely. 
     
     
       19. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the aquatic organisms are plants. 
     
     
       20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the aquatic organisms are single-cell organisms. 
     
     
       21. A method as claimed in claim 20, in which the plasma sparking device is operated remotely. 
     
     
       22. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the plasma sparking device is used to sterilize water or other liquids. 
     
     
       23. A method as claimed in claim 22, in which the plasma sparking device sterilizes a liquid by discharging said device directly into the liquid and generating an ionized plasma plume of said liquid with both resultant UV radiation and acoustic pulses of a frequency detrimental to organisms, the presence of which is undesirable in the liquid. 
     
     
       24. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the spark discharge occurs in a spark discharge cavity in the plasma sparking device which is vented at one end to allow egress of an ionized plasma plume of a liquid into which the plasma sparking device discharges. 
     
     
       25. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the plasma sparking device is operated remotely. 
     
     
       26. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the acoustical pulses so generated are intended to serve to sterilize a liquid, separate solids or liquids in colloidal suspensions or to break up solids and liquids immersed in liquids. 
     
     
       27. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein two or more plasma sparking devices are made to produce acoustical pulses such that the time intervals between them are adjusted to the physical dimensions of the target organisms in order to maximize biological damage. 
     
     
       28. A plasma sparking device for generating acoustical pulses in a liquid medium characterized by including at least one high voltage/high current capacitor connected in series or in parallel in a main storage circuit producing a combined energy discharge in the order of 25,000-plus Amps at 5,000-plus Volts DC, a discharge wire having resistance from 0.2 to 0.8 ohms and leading to paired submersible sparking electrodes separated by a spark gap, and means for replenishing the electrodes as they are consumed. 
     
     
       29. A plasma sparking device for generating acoustical pulses in a liquid medium characterized by including at least one high voltage/high current cryogenically cooled superconducting field coil connected in series or in parallel in a main storage circuit producing a combined energy discharge in the order of 25,000-plus Amps at 5,000-plus Volts DC, a discharge wire having resistance from 0.2 to 0.8 ohms and leading to paired submersible sparking electrodes separated by a spark gap, and means for replenishing the electrodes as they are consumed. 
     
     
       30. A plasma sparking device as defined in claim 28, in which the capacitors in the main storage circuit are liquid dielectric capacitors. 
     
     
       31. A plasma sparking device as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 30, in which the electrodes comprise aluminum or an alloy thereof. 
     
     
       32. A plasma sparking device as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 30, in which the electrodes are in a discharge cavity vented at one end to allow egress of a plasma plume. 
     
     
       33. A plasma sparking device as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 30, in which the discharge wire is a nickel-chromium wire. 
     
     
       34. A plasma sparking device as claimed in claim 28, in which the means for replenishing the electrodes comprises a spool of wound electrode wire, sensors, and control means to feed wire from the spool to replenish consumed electrodes. 
     
     
       35. A plasma sparking device as defined in claim 28, in which the at least one high voltage/high current capacitor is a 200-plus microfarad capacitor. 
     
     
       36. A plasma sparking device as claimed in claim 31, in which the electrodes are in a discharge cavity vented at one end to allow egress of a plasma plume. 
     
     
       37. A plasma sparking device as claimed in claim 31, in which the discharge wire is a nickel-chromium wire. 
     
     
       38. A plasma sparking device as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 30, in which the means for replenishing the electrodes comprises a spool of wound electrode wire, sensors, and a control panel means to feed wire from the spool to replenish consumed electrodes. 
     
     
       39. A plasma sparking device as claimed in claim 31, in which the means for replenishing the electrodes comprises a spool of wound electrode wire, sensors, and a control panel means to feed wire from the spool to replenish consumed electrodes. 
     
     
       40. A plasma sparking device as claimed in claim 32, in which the means for replenishing the electrodes comprises a spool of wound electrode wire, sensors, and a control panel means to feed wire from the spool to replenish consumed electrodes. 
     
     
       41. A plasma sparking device for generating continuously repeatable acoustical pulses in a liquid medium characterized by including at least one high voltage/high current capacitor connected in series or in parallel in a main storage circuit, a discharge wire leading to paired submersible sparking electrodes separated by a spark gap, means for replenishing the electrodes as they are consumed and control means for remotely controlling the replenishment of the electrodes, wherein the replenishing means and the control means provide the continuous repeated acoustical pulses.